Staff and health and safety training and induction

Don't have a UQ login? You can access the volunteer and visitor training and induction.

UQ staff and HDR students must complete any required online training through Workday. Undergraduate and Postgraduate Coursework Students, Affiliates, Controlled Entities staff and Contractors need to complete the training through Learn.UQ (Blackboard).

The health and safety training you are required to complete can depend on your:

role at UQ
work activities
previous experience and training.

See the full list of online health, safety and wellness training via Workday (staff login required).

For UQ staff induction requirements and activities, see the new staff induction website. The list of all mandatory, required and recommended training can be found on the staff development website.

All staff and HDR students

These training and induction activities are required for:

all staff, including casual staff and tutors
higher degree by research (HDR) students
visiting academics
unpaid trainees.

They are also required for undergraduate students who are:

completing special projects, summer research or honours research in a work-type environment (for example, a research laboratory, workshop or field site)
gaining work experience or volunteering on field trips.

All staff and students should also complete any relevant task-specific or role-specific training. Please see the Staff Development website to complete all mandatory, required and recommended training.

Training or activity	Timeframe
Local site induction, including being: shown the location of emergency equipment, exits and evacuation meeting points introduced to local health and safety coordinators (WHSC) and representatives (HSR), floor wardens and first aid officer.	First day
Your local Health, Safety and Wellness Coordinator/Manager or your direct supervisor or Induction Officer will initiate the New Worker HSW Onboarding Checklist process. It is an online form to be completed via Unitask. New worker HSW onboarding checklist (PDF, 152.8 KB) – only complete this paper-based form if you are unable to access the UniTask.	First week
Health and safety training needs analysis (PDF, 150.6 KB) – complete this with your supervisor and complete any training identified as required for your work.	First week
Health, Safety and Wellness (HSW) Induction online training (staff login required)	First day, with refresher required every 5 years
Annual Fire Safety Awareness online training (staff login required)	First day, with annual refresher
Staff who use computer workstations: Computer workstation self-assessment checklist.	This is recommended but not mandatory

Supervisors and managers

This training is mandatory for all managers, supervisors and academic advisors who supervise or manage staff or students.

Training or activity	Timeframe
Supervisor Work Health and Safety Responsibilities online training (staff login required)	As soon as practicable

Work Health and Safety Coordinators (WHSC)

Training or activity	Timeframe
Work Health and Safety Coordinator training – contact Health, Safety and Wellness at hsw@uq.edu.au to organise training	As soon as practicable

Health and Safety Representatives (HSR)

Training or activity	Timeframe
QLD Health and Safety Representatives (HSR) training	Within 3 months of being elected as a HSR. This training is mandatory. Please contact your local WHS Manager to organise it.

Biological materials staff and HDR students

Training or activity	Timeframe
Training listed on this page for laboratory staff and HDR students or biosecurity (quarantine) staff and HDR students	Before you start general laboratory work or work with biosecurity (quarantine) materials.
Biosafety online training (staff login required)	Before you start work in a certified PC1, PC2 or PC3 laboratory.
Emergency Procedures for Hazardous Materials training (staff login required to register for this training)	Before you start work in a biological laboratory, please contact your local WHS Manager to organise it.
Working safely in a Class II biological safety cabinet	When you start work in a laboratory with a biological safety cabinet.
PC3 Theory training online training (staff login required)	Before you start work in a certified PC3 laboratory. Contact the Biosafety Advisors for further training requirements.

Biosecurity (quarantine) staff and HDR students

Training or activity	Timeframe
Biosecurity Safety and Compliance online training (staff login required)	Before you start work with biosecurity (quarantine) materials. Contact your Workplace Health and Safety Coordinator about any other training requirements.
Biosecurity Workshop	As soon as practicable. Please contact your local WHS Manager to organise it.
Training listed on this page for laboratory staff and HDR students or biological materials staff and HDR students	Before you start general laboratory work or work in a biological laboratory.

Emergency floor wardens

Training or activity	Timeframe
Annual Emergency Warden Training training (staff login required)	As soon as practicable.

Field staff

Training or activity	Timeframe
Fieldwork Safety online training (staff login required)	Before you start field work.
Hand tool safety online training (staff login required)	Before you use hand tools for field work.

Fire Safety Officers

Training or activity	Timeframe
Fire Safety Officer training	As soon as practicable.

First Aid Officers

Training or activity	Timeframe
Accredited first aid training provided by a registered training organisation (RTO) recognised by the Australian Skills Quality Authority. You can search for RTOs and their courses at the Australian Government's My Skills website. UQ provides accredited first aid training. The training is open to all staff, but preference for training places is given to UQ-appointed First Aid Officers.	Before you are appointed as a First Aid Officer.

Training or activity

Timeframe

Accredited first aid training provided by a registered training organisation (RTO) recognised by the Australian Skills Quality Authority. You can search for RTOs and their courses at the Australian Government's My Skills website.

UQ provides accredited first aid training. The training is open to all staff, but preference for training places is given to UQ-appointed First Aid Officers.

Before you are appointed as a First Aid Officer.

Grounds, maintenance and workshop staff

You must provide copies of required certificates, licences and permits to your supervisor before you start any relevant work. These qualifications must be recorded on Aurion.

You should discuss task-specific safety training with your supervisor. You may require additional safety training on top of what’s listed here.

Role or activities	Required training, licences or permits	May also be required
All staff using hand tools	Hand tool safety online training (staff login required)	No other requirements
Carpenters	Trade qualification	Asbestos removal licence – class B Elevated work platform (EWP) licence Scaffolding licence
Electricians	Trade qualification Electrical mechanic licence	Confined space training Work safely at heights training Elevated work platform (EWP) licence
Fitter and turner	Trade qualification	Confined space training Work safely at heights training Elevated work platform (EWP) licence
Gardener or groundsperson	Trade qualification	Agricultural Chemicals Distribution Control (ACDC) licence Tractor training Chainsaw training Skid steer licence Traffic controller licence Front-end loader (LL) licence Front-end loader/backhoe (LB) licence Heavy vehicle licence
Mechanic	Trade qualification	Forklift licence
Painters	Trade qualification	Elevated work platform (EWP) licence Scaffolding licence Work safely at heights training
Pest control officer	Pest management licence	Elevated work platform (EWP) licence Scaffolding licence Work safely at heights training Australian Pest Control Association (APCA) Pest Control Certificate course
Plumbers	Trade qualification Plumbers licence Gas fitter licence Drainers licence Confined space training	Backflow prevention training Thermostatic mixing valve training On-site sewerage facility maintenance training Solar and heat pump hot water systems training Work safely at heights training Scaffolding licence
Refrigeration mechanic	Trade qualification Restricted electrical licence Refrigerant handling licence	Confined space training Work safely at heights training
Water and sewerage treatment plant operator	Waste management certificate Confined space training	Water and sewerage operator ticket
Stock picker	Forklift licence	No other requirements

Hazardous chemicals staff

Training or activity	Timeframe
Chemical Safety online training (staff login required)	Before you start work with hazardous chemicals.

Laboratory staff and HDR students

Training or activity	Timeframe
Laboratory Safety training needs analysis (PDF, 399.2 KB) – complete this with your supervisor and complete any training identified as required for your work.	Before you start laboratory work.
Laboratory Safety online training (staff login required)	Before you start laboratory work.
Local laboratory safety induction – attend an induction run by your local Laboratory Manager.	Before you start laboratory work.
Compressed Gases Safety online training (staff login required)	Before you work with compressed gases.
Liquid Nitrogen and Dry Ice Safety online training (staff login required)	Before you work with dry ice or liquid nitrogen.
Hand Tool Safety online training (staff login required)	Before you use hand tools in the workplace.

Plant and equipment operators

Workplace Health and Safety Coordinators or supervisors must verify and record all required operator qualifications, licences and approvals:

on an equipment training register (PDF, 230.1 KB) for the location
in records for the individual worker.

All staff using hand tools must also complete the Hand tool safety online training (staff login required).

Plant or equipment	Category	Required operator qualifications
Air-conditioning units (greater than 50kW)	Registrable plant, as per Schedule 5 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011	Not specified
Amusement devices (excluding coin operated devices)	Registrable plant, as per Schedule 5 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011	Not specified
Autoclaves	UQ-defined high-risk plant	UQ training
Boats	UQ-defined high-risk plant	Licence or authority to work (certificate)
Boilers (hazard level A, B or C)	Registrable plant, as per Schedule 5 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011	Licence or authority to work (certificate)
Building maintenance units	Registrable plant, as per Schedule 5 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011	Licence or authority to work (certificate)
Chainsaws	UQ-defined high-risk plant	Certified training via a registered training organisation (RTO)
Cooling towers	High-risk plant, as per Schedule 1 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011	Not specified
Crane (greater than 10t)	Registrable plant, as per Schedule 5 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011	Licence or authority to work (certificate)
Escalators (including moving walkways)	High-risk plant, as per Schedule 1 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 Registrable plant, as per Schedule 5 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011	Not specified
Forklift (forklift truck, order-picking forklift truck)	UQ-defined high-risk plant	Licence or authority to work (certificate)
Fume cupboard or biosafety cabinet	UQ-defined high-risk plant	UQ training
Heavy vehicle	UQ-defined high-risk plant	Licence or authority to work (certificate)
Lifts	High-risk plant, as per Schedule 1 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 Registrable plant, as per Schedule 5 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011	Not specified
Light vehicles	UQ-defined high-risk plant	Driver licence
Light vehicles (4WD; driving off-road)	UQ-defined high-risk plant	Driver licence Certified training via a registered training organisation (RTO)
Load shifting equipment (dozer, excavator, front-end loader, front end loader/backhoe, grader, road roller, scraper, skid steer loader)	UQ-defined high-risk plant	Certified training via a registered training organisation (RTO)
LP gas cylinders (water capacity greater than 0.1kg)	High-risk plant, as per Schedule 1 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011	Not specified
Motorbike	UQ-defined high-risk plant	Licence or authority to work (certificate)
Pendant cranes	UQ-defined high-risk plant	UQ training
Pressure vessels and equipment (boiler, turbine, steam engine)	Registrable plant, as per Schedule 5 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011	Licence or authority to work (certificate)
Quad bikes	UQ-defined high-risk plant	Driver licence Certified training via a registered training organisation (RTO)
Ride-on mowers	UQ-defined high-risk plant	Driver licence UQ training
Tractors	UQ-defined high-risk plant	Driver licence Certified training via a registered training organisation (RTO)
Truck-mounted concrete placing units with booms	Registrable plant, as per Schedule 5 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011	Licence or authority to work (certificate)
Utility vehicles (for example, Kubota or Kawasaki)	UQ-defined high-risk plant	Driver licence UQ training

Radiation staff and HDR students

Training or activity	Timeframe
One or both of: Radiation Safety with Unsealed Sources – introduction online training (staff login required) Radiation Safety with Unsealed Sources – practical training. Contact your local WHS Manager.	Before you work with unsealed radioactive sources. You may also require a Queensland Radiation Health licence.
X-ray Safety online training (staff login required)	Before you work with X-ray devices. You may also require a Queensland Radiation Health licence.
Queensland Radiation Health licence or specialist training provided by suppliers and manufacturers. Discuss your specific requirements with your area’s Radiation Safety Officer or the University Radiation Protection Adviser.	Before you work with unsealed radioactive sources over certain limits or specialised equipment.

Training or activity

Timeframe

One or both of:

Radiation Safety with Unsealed Sources – introduction online training (staff login required)
Radiation Safety with Unsealed Sources – practical training. Contact your local WHS Manager.

Before you work with unsealed radioactive sources. You may also require a Queensland Radiation Health licence.

X-ray Safety online training (staff login required)

Before you work with X-ray devices. You may also require a Queensland Radiation Health licence.

Queensland Radiation Health licence or specialist training provided by suppliers and manufacturers.

Discuss your specific requirements with your area’s Radiation Safety Officer or the University Radiation Protection Adviser.

Before you work with unsealed radioactive sources over certain limits or specialised equipment.

Security Officers

Training or activity	Timeframe
Security provider licence (Individual – Class 1)	As soon as practicable.
Certified first aid training	As soon as practicable.
You may also require: Security provider licence (Individual – Class 2)	As soon as practicable.

Traffic Officers

Training or activity	Timeframe
Traffic controller licence	As soon as practicable.
Communication Foundations	Recommended not mandatory.
Conflict Resolution Foundations	Recommended not mandatory.

External contractors

Training or activity	Timeframe
UQ Contractor safety induction and registration processs for contractors using the Rapid Induct system - if you have not received an email link to access the Rapid Induct system please contact your company administrator.	Before you start work on site.
UQ Contractor safety induction and registration process for contractors that are not required to register in the Rapid Induct system.	Before you start work on site.
Refer to UQ contractor engagement and management guide for detail on the interaction of various processes, systems and responsibilities in place at UQ for commercial contractors.	Before you start work on site.